KUALA LUMPUR (March 4): Parliamentary absenteeism during critical votes undermines democratic accountability, an anti-corruption watchdog warned on Wednesday.

The failure to pass a proposed bill to limit the prime minister’s term to 10 years, which requires two-thirds majority approval, makes attendance and participation by members of Parliament (MPs) matters of constitutional responsibility, Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) said in a statement.

“Regardless of political affiliation,” TI-M president Raymon Ram stressed, “absence without clear justification during critical votes erodes democratic accountability, undermines institutional reform, and weakens public confidence in Parliament as the nation’s highest law-making institution.”

On Monday, the bill garnered only 146 votes in favour — two short of the required two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat to amend the Constitution. A total of 44 MPs abstained, while 32 were absent.

According to the Parliament Hansard released on Tuesday, six government bloc MPs were among the 32 absentees. They included three from BN — Umno’s Sembrong MP Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Libaran MP Datuk Suhaimi Nasir and MIC’s Tapah MP Datuk M Saravanan.

The others were GPS’ Lawas MP Datuk Henry Sum Agong, GRS’ Keningau MP Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan, and PBM’s Julau MP Larry Sng. Two independents — Tenom MP Datuk Riduan Rubin and Bukit Gantang MP Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz — were also absent.

“Parliament cannot demand public trust while tolerating avoidable non-attendance during decisions that shape the constitutional and governance framework of the nation,” Raymon said.

The Malaysian chapter of the global corruption watchdog called for several reforms to strengthen accountability, including the daily publication of MPs’ attendance records categorised as present, absent with leave, or absent without leave.

The Parliament should also formally designate certain proceedings including constitutional amendments, budget votes and confidence motions as “critical votes”, requiring written explanations for absence to be made public, TI-M said.

TI-M also urged the introduction of proportionate consequences for unjustified absenteeism, such as mandatory explanations, referrals to the Committee of Privileges and financial penalties where appropriate.

“Malaysia’s democratic integrity depends not only on the laws we pass, but on the commitment of those entrusted to pass them,” Raymon added.

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